From RedState:

The GOP is the Party of Freedom of Choice

The Party that Believes in Your Right to Direct Your Life

Charles Manson stole this song from the Beatles – now, we’re stealing it back.

The Republican Party has always embraced a wide range of ideological beliefs – and this diversity of thought has sometimes inspired conflict, as it has also led to great achievement. Yet through all debates, despite all regional or political concerns, the foundation of Republicanism has been the same since its inception: the freedom of the individual, and the value of every human life.

These principles have guided the party from its origin as a political force to destroy slavery, to the long fight against communism, to the ongoing battle for the sanctity of the unborn, to the present war against the forces of Islamism. Those principles will guide the Republican Party through the twenty-first century, and beyond. And we believe the GOP must rededicate itself to the idea of individual freedom – of being the party that believes not in government mandated parity, which wields the power of the bureaucracy to force a false equality of outcome, but in a level playing field for all Americans regardless of race, class, or creed – ensuring an equal opportunity to compete, succeed, and thrive.

The Republican Party must reclaim its rightful mantle as the leading champion of Freedom of Choice.

People must be free to decide how to direct their lives for themselves, and then be responsible for their choices.

On education, Republicans believe you must be free to choose how you want to educate your children. Government should not stand in the way of your choice, whether in the form of home schooling, government schooling, charter schools, vouchers to leave a failing school for a thriving school, or other opportunities.

On healthcare, Republicans should embrace an end to regulatory regimes that prevent citizens from buying healthcare across state lines. Republicans should embrace reforms that allow the free market to play a greater role in health care, not a lesser role. Republicans should embrace total portability of health insurance so workers can be free to choose a new job without fear of losing their insurance.

On taxes, Republicans should embrace the Republican Study Committee plan for an alternate flat tax. If you want to go through the regular 1040 process with itemized deductions, etc., do it. If you want to bypass that route, file a postcard return based on a flat tax — the taxpayer’s choice.

On energy, Republicans, including our Presidential nominee, should embrace every option. You want nuclear power? Republicans should favor that choice. You want to use the resources we have instead of buying it from our enemies? Republicans support legislation to allow us to drill here and now. You want methanol and other biofuels? Republicans should break down trade barriers that prevent the importation of ethanol and Republicans should break down subsidies that raise the price of food stuffs in the name of producing corn based ethanol and other biofuels. Republicans should be in favor of letting consumers decide which light bulbs consumers want for their own homes.

On Social Security, Republicans should favor greater investment options for individuals’ retirements. If an individual wants to keep the current social security regime, we should let them. If an individual wants greater control investing their social security, we should let them have it. And above all else, because the government has already made certain choices regarding social security and medicare withholdings, Republicans should not use FICA/FUTA revenues for anything but social security and medicare/Medicaid payments respectively, in the current year.

When individuals are allowed to choose for themselves, they take an ownership interest in their choices. One of the greatest failures of the present administration has been not aggressively communicating and supporting the President’s idea of an ownership society, which contains at its core the revolutionary undercurrent that motivated America’s founding: that each individual holds within themselves the capacity and right to self-government.

This is an enormous contrast with the Democrats. In almost every area of their agenda, they are opposed to self-government. They advocate less freedom for the individual to direct their lives – they remove the Freedom of Choice from the American citizen, and give it instead to bureacracies and agencies and the many eddies and tidepools of the federal government, all managed with the efficiency and responsibility of your local Department of Motor Vehicles.

We will be putting up local / significant events as we are appraised of them (and time permitting!).  This one is for Jeb Bradley, candidate US Congress in NH Congressional District 1.

You’re invited

 to attend

a fundraiser reception in support of

 

Jeb Bradley for Congress

 

Tuesday, June 24^th, 2008

5:30 pm  -  7:00 pm

At the Wentworth by the Sea Marina

116 Morgan’s Way

We will be putting up local / significant events as we are appraised of them (and time permitting!).  This one is for John Stephen, candidate US Congress in NH Congressional District 1.

Date	Wednesday June 25, 2008
Time	5:00PM  - 7:00PM
Contact	Alyssa Pockell alyssa@stephenforcongress.com
Description	Please join our host committee: Tom Boucher, Marc Bourgeois, Hon. Ray Burton, Luke Freudenberg, Judy Krahulec, Hon. David Lawton, Scott Ouelette, Steve Whalley and Niel Young at: Cactus Jacks 1182 Union Avenue Laconia, NH suggested donation: $25 per person RSVP to 206-1223 or info@stephenforcongress.com

It's early in the campaign season - time to learn or time for a tuneup (gee, didn't I already say that?)!



If you want to sign up on line, click here!

It's early in the campaign season - time to learn or time for a tuneup!


If you want to sign up on line, click here!

It can be seen here; go and visit!  Larry is running to represent Tilton and Sanbornton in the NH House of Representatives.

His announcement was here.

'Tis the season to be jolly...if you're going to run!  The filing period starts this Wednesday, June 4 and will continue through June 13.

In the meantime, we'll track actual announcements of who is going to be running for what elective office - we'll update and bump this post as needed.

US District 1 Congressional Seat

      Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro)

His campaign website: Jeb For Congress
His blogsite:               Jeb For Congress blog

John Stephen (R-Manchester)

 His campaign website: John Stephen for Congress

NH Governor

Joe Kenney (R-Wakefield,currently NH State Senator)

His campaign website: Joe Kenney Governor

NH District 2 Senate Seat

(Center Harbor, Meredith, New Hampton, Sanborton and towns in Grafton County)  

Bill Tobin (currently House Representative)

NH District 4 Senate Seat

(Alton, Barnstead, Belmont, Gilford,Gilmanton, Laconia, New Durham, Strafford, Tilton)    

Greg Knytych (currently Laconia City Ward 1 Councilor) running against Kathy Sgambati (D-Tilton)

His campaign website: Knytych 4 NH Values
His blogsite:                The Blogging Councilor

Belknap County Commission:


Tom Tardif (former Laconia Mayor)
His campaign website: TomTardif.com

Frank Tilton (currently House Representative and Belknap County Republican Chair)

Belknap County Sheriff:

Craig Wiggin

Belknap County Registrar of Deeds

Barbara Luther (currently the incumbent Belknap County Registrar of Deeds)

Belknap County Registrar of Probate

Karen Brickner (currently the incumbent Belknap County Registrar of Probate)

NH House of Representatives:

District 1 (Center Harbor, New Hampton)

Fran Wendelboe

District 2 (Sanborton, Tilton; 2 seats)

Dennis Fields - Sanborton

R. Larry Scott - Tilton

District 3 (Meredith; 3 seats)

Stephen Nadeau

Elliot Finn

District 4 (Laconia; 5 seats)

James "Olie" Anderson
Tom Brown
Glenn Dewhirst
Don Flanders
John Veazey

District 5 (Alton, Barnstead, Belmont, Gilford, Gilmanton)

Peter Bolster - Alton
Laurie Boyce - Alton
Alida Millham - GIlford
James Pilliod - Belmont
Jeffrey L. St. Cyr - Alton
Elaine Swinford - Barnstead

District 6 - Gilmanton

David Russell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2008

Concord- On Thursday, former Laconia Mayor Thomas A. Tardif filed papers at the Secretary of State's office for the Republican nomination to the position of Commissioner of Belknap County. The position is one of three, and represents the 1st District of the county, which is a Laconia-only seat.


Following the official signing, Tardif remarked, "I felt as though I had no choice. After the events of the past year, including numerous and ongoing violations of the state's Right to Know laws, the budget mess, the firing of the Administrator/Finance Director, and the continued disregard of specific process laws, all capped with a significant rise in the amount of tax dollars collected from property tax payers, I believe the County needs somebody to provide a degree of oversight that is obviously very desperately needed.

Referring to his extensive study of the budget during the past cycle and his understanding of the various laws proscribing how the county's business is supposed to be conducted, Tardif promised, "I will be ready to serve in the position of County Commissioner from day one. The basic operation of the County is guided by a specific chain of events that must follow a legal timeline as contained in New Hampshire's laws. I promise that as long as I am a member of the County Commission, I will work to see that they are followed.  Those laws exist for a reason - - one that if you look at them and contemplate their meaning, is to provide meximum access by the public in the discharge of its county business.

"I believe that there is no person better qualified to right the wrongs that have been exposed. I will be the peoples' watchdog for both process and spending.  It is time that someone steps up on behalf of the regular people of this county..."

Tardif served as Laconia's Mayor from 1990 to 1992.

Date:        6/11/08

Time:        5:30pm   Buffet Dinner ($12)
                6:30pm   Meeting

Place:       Shanghai Restaurant
                331 South Main Street
                Laconia, NH
                (603) 524-4100

 (see map below)

Speakers:








Map of Shang-hai:
    (map)

Nashua Telegraph

Former state Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen filed for the 1st congressional district’s Republican primary. He promised to work to cut wasteful government spending, saying America’s credit card is maxed out.

Boston.com

CONCORD, N.H.—State Senator Joe Kenney officially enters the race for governor in New Hampshire on Wednesday, filing for the Republican primary at the Secretary of State's office.
more stories like this

The three-term senator from Wakefield is the only Republican in the race to face Governor John Lynch in November. He says Lynch has led a spending spree in Concord that is setting the state up for an income or sales tax.

Gilford Steamer
Page A9

Kenney tosses his hat into the ring in the race for governor

LAKES REGION — There’s some local competition for Governor John Lynch in the next election, as District 3 Senator Joe Kenney revs up for a campaign for the governor’s seat this year.

Kenney recently spoke to Salmon Press about his upcoming campaign for governor as a Republican candidate. With 14 years in the state legislature, 28 years as a Marine, and his New Hampshire roots stretching from Wakefield, Kenney said he has the experience to become the next governor of New Hampshire.

The announcement of his candidacy has won him the endorsement of Senator Carl Johnson of Meredith, who endorsed him when the two met for a luncheon last month.

“The next governor needs experience and proven leadership,” said Kenney. “We’ve seen a governor who is hands-off and makes the legislature out to be the bad guys. We’ve had too many multimillionaire governors who don’t understand and know how New Hampshire operates, how to balance the budgets, to fend off special interests, and how to keep New Hampshire, New Hampshire.”

In particular, the phrase “Let’s keep New Hampshire, New Hampshire,” has become the motto of Kenney’s campaign. Kenney said that the social fabric of New Hampshire is changing, with things like the passage of civil unions this year.

As part of that, Kenney voiced support for preserving the state parks, and said he is a supporter of privatizing Cannon Mountain, and putting the revenue into the system - then increasing the amount of New Hampshire. For all the value that people place on the parks, Kenney said, there needs to be a bigger support system in place, relating the story of meeting a woman at Wentworth Lake, who was the only person there to supervise an area that saw more than 200 visitors. Fixing up their buildings and marketing them to out-of-state visitors would be a good move for the state, according to Kenney.

Such things also go handin-hand with the development of local infrastructure. The same day Kenney gave the interview, he worked with the Senate to sponsor a bill for the Gunstock Mountain bridge, allowing the bridge to be eligible for municipal funding through the bridge aid program, up to $500,000.

Despite his support of natural resources, Kenney said he stops short at supporting “special interests,” especially in a time where the state is facing a budget shortfall. Programs like the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program, which saw an increase in its state funding at Lynch‘s behest, should not be a priority in this time, according to Kenney.

“I support LCHIP, the problem is how to fund it,” Kenney said. “There are two possible approaches - LCHIP license plates and volunteer contributions. But when it is a regular contribution, and the governor gives $12 million, it’s not a priority.”

Among his other economic goals,Kenney said he would like to champion the introduction of a “PDA North” - like the Pemi Development A, Kenney said he would like to see a program like the PDA revitalizing the job industry in the North Country and Berlin. Such a program would develop a more solid infrastructure of business, to bring job seekers north.

As to his rival, the incumbent Lynch, Kenney isn’t shy about his views on Lynch’s achievements during his years as governor. Speaking to SB 539, a bill that some towns fear will reintroduce the concept of donor towns in New Hampshire, Kenney said that he didn’t feel the governor had stood up strongly enough to members of his own party who supported the bill, and didn‘t champion constitutional amendment CACR 34, which targets educational aid. Opponents of SB 539 championed CACR 34 as a possible fix if SB 539 passed.

“The Democratic Party ran over Lynch on the constitutional amendment,” said Kenney. “They threw him under the bus and then ran over him. He’s running out of parties to lead.”

Kenney also pointed out the Shoreline Protection Act and the Workman’s Comp law, calling them examples of situations where Lynch could have showed leadership and did not.

Laconia Daily Sun (P1,8)
Mike Kitch

Tobin to provide GOP challenge to Reynolds

SANBORNTON — Republican Bill Tobin of Sanbornton is leaving the seat in the House of Representatives he has held for two terms to challenge Democrat Deborah Reynolds of Plymouth for the Senate in District 2. Tobin and Democrat Gail Morrison, also from Sanbornton, are currently representing a district comprised of the townships of Sanbornton and Tilton.

Reynolds topped six-term incumbent Carl Johnson of Meredith 10,408 to 8,554 to win the seat in 2006.

“I had filed for the House on Monday,” Tobin said yesterday, “but when I got home I had a call from Carl Johnson asking me to run for the Senate.” He said he met with Johnson and other Republicans from the district who urged him to challenge the incumbent.

“I told them that I will need all the help I can get,” Tobin said, “and they assured me I would have it.” He described being recruited by Johnson as “a great honor,” adding with him asking, I couldn’t refuse.”

A veteran of both the United States Air Force who worked as an air traffic controller, Tobin has provided home and commercial inspection services since 1962 and engaged in furniture making at Water Loon Studios between 1967 and 1994. He served as building inspector, code enforcement officer and health officer in Gilford from 1989 to 1995. For the past 27 years he and his wife Faith have volunteered at the Children’s Fair in New Ipswich, where they lived before moving to Sanbornton 20 years ago. He currently serves as health officer in Sanbornton, where he has held a number of town offices, including selectman. During his two terms in the House, Tobin served on the Environment and Agriculture Committee.

Tobin vowed to run a “positive campaign,” explaining “I want people to know what I can do, not what the other person can’t do or didn’t do.” He said he believes in “minimum government and maximum personal responsibility” and counts himself a “financial conservative.”

Senate District 2 includes four towns in Belknap County (Center Harbor, Meredith, New Hampton and Sanbornton) and 27 towns in Grafton County.

Dennis Fields, who represented Merrimack in the House in the past but lost his fi rst bid to represent Sanbornton in the GOP primary in 2006, and Larry Scott, a former counselor, pastor, long-haul trucker and teacher, have fi led for the two slots on the Republican primary ballot.

Morrison has yet to file for re-election.

Press Release from Larry Scott

For Immediate Release                                   Contact: Larry Scott
June 4, 2008                                                  603-286-8512
                                                                     larryscottfornh@live.com

Tilton:

Today Larry Scott announced a run for the State House of Representatives representing Belknap County District 2, the towns of Tilton and Sanbornton.

“Massive spending, a looming budget deficit in excess of $200 million and the impending threat of an income or sales tax has fueled my decision to run,” said Larry.  “I have been profoundly disturbed by the fiscal and social mismanagement of the Democrat controlled House.  From the fiscally irresponsible 17% increase in the state budget to the socially irresponsible repeal of parental notification of minors and radical civil union legislation, New Hampshire voters certainly didn’t get what they bargained for in 2006.”

Larry Scott was born to missionary parents and spent his youth growing up in Peru.  He is a graduate of the Ashland Seminary in Ohio, has experience as a counselor, pastor, long-haul trucker and teacher.

“I plan on taking my experience in education, labor and religion to Concord to do the business of the people in an open and honest way.  I plan on being available and open to the voters of Sanbornton and Tilton and encourage them to contact me with any questions or concerns.  We need a breath of fresh air in our state capitol, and I hope to provide that,” concluded Scott. 

His website will soon be available.

Laconia Daily Sun (P. 5)

LACONIA — [snip]

In other courthouse news, Belknap County Registrar of Probate Karen H. Brickner has announced that she, too will be a candidate for reelection. She has been in her current position since 2004, when former Register Estelle Dearborn retires.

Brickner has been an employee of the judicial branch of N.H. government for 25 years.

Laconia Daily Sun (P. 9)
Barnstead legislator raising funds to install a MikeWhalley memorial bench in Representatives Hall

ALTON — It was Rep. Mike Whalley’s encouragement that brought Janet Allen to the state’s House of Representatives six years ago. In honor of Whalley’s leadership, Allen thought it would be most appropriate for a memorial to the former Republican leader to be present in the House’s Chambers.

Whalley, who was the House Republican leader, was under treatment for brain cancer and died in March from complications from a fall, and Allen is beginning a campaign to raise funds for a bench to be placed in his memory in the House Chambers.

“Mike spent a great deal of time in Rep’s Hall, speaking at the [Speaker’s] Well, or sitting on the bench waiting for his turn to speak,” said Allen. She thought the best way for her to memorialize her friend and colleague would be to replace the aging bench where he spent so much time sitting and thinking about what he would say when his turn came.

Allen has been working with the House Historical Committee, which has given the concept its backing. That committee will also review the fi nal plan to ensure that the bench will be an aesthetic complement to the room.

Allen fi rst came to know Whalley when they were both members of Bishop Brady High School’s Class of 1971. They both attended UNH after graduation, but differing interests and their respective family lives cause them to drift apart, until Whalley, who had been a representative from Bow, moved to Alton.

His new address put him in House district number 5, which includes Barnstead, where Allen lives. When Allen learned of Whalley’s intention to run for one of the seats six years ago, she offered to be his campaign manager. Whalley had a better idea, and the two of them both ran, and acting as each other’s campaign manager, they both won. The same strategy produced the same results for the next two election cycles.

Allen and Whalley worked together on bills, and from 2004 to 2006, Allen was the Clerk of the Election Law Committee, which Whalley chaired.

“He was our leader, he was a natural born leader,” she said. “Mike was a great compromiser. He always felt that if two parties left the table and they were both a little unhappy, that was a good compromise.”

Laconia Daily Sun (P.5)

LACONIA — Barbara R. Luther has announced that she has fi led to seek the Republican nomination for Belknap County Registrar of Deeds. A 36-year resident of Laconia and 23-year veteran of the Registry, Luther was appointed in January to fill the unexpired term of long-time Registrar Rachel M. Normandin, who retired at the fi rst of the year.

Luther has served as Deputy Registrar since May of 2006. She is married to City Councilor Bob Luther (Ward 2). They have three adult children and four grandchildren.

Over at GraniteGrok, NH's candidates for Congress and Senate are answering questions.  Some have come in already - more have agreed to participate.  The questions are wide ranging and were crafted to show nuances between the candidates mindsets and philosophies.

So far, you can view the answers of

Updated and Bumped - all candidates have given their answers.  We thank them all!

US Senate:

Senator John Sununu

US House of Representatives:

NH -1

Candidate Jeb Bradley

     Candidate John Stephen

NH-2

Candidate Grant Bosse

Candidate Bob Clegg

Candidate Jennifer Horn

Candidate Jim Steiner

The questions can be seen after the jump

The Laconia Daily Sun (6/4/08, page 8,9)

Wiggin announces he will ask voters to keep him as sheriff

LACONIA — Belknap County Sheriff Craig Wiggin, who was appointed by the County Convention a year ago to complete the term Dan Collis who resigned to accept a corporate security position in the private sector, has announced that he will seek election to the post as a Republican candidate. The fi ling period for county and state positions opens today (June 4) and closes on the 14th.

A graduate of Newfound High School and St. Anselm’s College, Wiggin began his career in law enforcement in the Cadet and Explorer program as a high school student and served as a part-time officer in Bristol and Laconia while in college. After three years as an officer with the Laconia Police Department, he joined the New Hampshire State Police in 1984. During his 21 years with the state police, Wiggin was a K-9 handler and troop detective with Troop E, assigned to Belknap County, before serving five years with the major crime unit, the last three as assistant commander. He was promoted to lieutenant at Troop E in 1999 and later oversaw the professional standards unit before becoming captain of the support services bureau and later major of the field operations bureau.

Since retiring from the state police in 2005, Wiggin worked in sales at Sig Sauer Firearms in Exeter and in risk management at Meredith Village Savings Bank before being appointed Belknap County Sheriff in June 2007. As sheriff he commands the Belknap County Special Operations Group, or S.W.A. T. team.

Laconia Citizen:

In Laconia, residents John Veazey and Thomas L. Brown Jr. declared their candidacies for the state House of Representatives,

Veazey, who is the semi-retired president of Boulia-Gorrell Lumber, said he wants to get back to Concord — he was defeated in 2006 in his bid for a second House term — "to put the state back in the people's hands."

He wants state education aid spent in the classrooms, "not on bricks and mortar," and he wants to curtail any moves to increase taxes. Additionally, he says the state should take "a serious look" at expanding legalized gambling.

Despite a significant shortfall in state revenues, some people say "we shouldn't have it," Veazey said of gambling, "but that brings in $60 million a year and I don't know where we would make that up."

Veazey likes his chances to advance past the Sept. 9 Republican primary and also to succeed in the November general election, buoyed by the possibility that one or more of the three incumbent Democratic state representatives from Laconia might not run.

From PolitickerNH:
By Brian Lawson

Bradley officially files

Former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro)

CONCORD-Former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) officially filed for office today.

Before he filed Bradley held a rally at the Legislative Office Building and then hosted a "Java with Jeb" at the Reagan Network headquarters.

"Our main job is to work and protect America," Bradley said at the Secretary of State's office. "We need to make sure the men and women serving in the armed forces have the resources they need."

PolitickerNH:

"It's a unique experience," Barbara Luther said. Luther is running for the Registrar of Deeds in Belknap County

Next Wednesday will bring down the curtain on what has been a painful two years for the taxpayers of our state. From increased taxes to overspending, House Democrats have put the state of New Hampshire into a financial crisis that will have long range repercussions for future legislatures.

I would like to thank all of you who served on a committee of conference this week and who worked hard to support the Republican position on many key issues. The results that came out of a number of committees of conference will certainly help in the coming campaign to point out the differences between Republicans who fought for the taxpayer at the State House and the Democrats who increased spending by 17% to match overestimated revenue figures, and increased fees and taxes.


I am proud of our conferees on SB 530, relative to kindergarten aid, who stood their ground despite the majority party’s failure to follow House Rules. By attempting to add an amendment that protects donor towns, House Democrats ignored House Rule 49:g, which is quite clear, “a non-germane amendment is any subject matter not contained in either the House or the Senate version of the bill.” This does not bend the House Rules, it totally breaks them. While protecting the donor towns is a laudable goal, adding it to SB 530 goes against everything the House stands for. I anticipate a floor fight on this issue when we convene next Wednesday.

“We have rules for a reason,” noted former Speaker and current House Republican Policy Leader Gene Chandler. “If we didn’t have these rules, the legislative process would be never ending and chaos would set in.”


It is pretty evident that Democrats are looking to help the governor close the gap on his budget deficit at the expense of those who use tobacco and play games of chance. Rep. Hawkins, who led the fight on the committee of conference, was removed so that betting limits could be doubled and a poker tax enacted. We will carry the fight against this expansion of gambling to the floor of the House on Wednesday as well.

The “Lynch tobacco tax” also prevailed in the committee of conference on SB 321, the legislation that Democrats have chosen to use as their “Christmas Tree Bill” in an attempt to help the governor deal with his budget crisis.

What the Democrats are “spinning” to the public is that the $.25 increase in the tobacco tax won’t go into effect for at least three months and then only if tobacco revenues fail to meet specified targets. We know what will happen in the end, and it will be the taxpayer who suffers.


House conferees stood firm against the Senate with regard to aid for Charter Schools in New Hampshire. Under HB 1642, these schools will receive $5,000 for each student they enroll next year. The funding includes $3,832 that the state now provides public schools for each student, and an additional $1,168 per pupil. The agreement is a onetime, one-year deal that will end when a new school funding plan takes effect on July 1, 2009. That plan gives charter schools a minimum of $5,540 per student. The Senate wanted to deny Charter Schools any funding, but were willing to put $1 per student into the bill.


Fortunately the House conferees stood together in opposition to an attempt by the Senate to do the governor’s bidding by tacking on the bonding of $80 million of school building aid to HB 1646, the 10-year transportation improvement plan. We have been adamant in the past that this is something that should be paid out of the operating budget and there is no reason to change this practice.

Using this method to close the governor’s budget deficit is like using one credit card to pay off another credit card and is fiscally irresponsible. As we mentioned in an earlier Republican Report, it was only due to the initiative of Republicans on House Finance that a number of changes were made to SB 321, however the huge reductions necessary to bring our level of spending down in line with our revenue stream are not there. The ONLY cuts made were those required by state statute.


As of late Friday afternoon, conferees on the Retirement Bill (HB 1645) were at a complete stalemate. We will have a full report of their final outcome with a discussion of our Republican position at the caucus on Wednesday.

This Wednesday will be our final opportunity to show the voters of this state that we Republicans have continued to serve in their best interest over the past two years. The voters wanted change two years ago and what they got was a change in tax policy, a change in the spending policy, and a change in the open way in which business is conducted at the State House in Concord. I urge our Republican Caucus to stick together on Wednesday. We will hold a caucus on Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM in Rooms 305-307 of the Legislative Office Building. I am looking forward to a good turnout.

Please remember that our office will be open throughout the summer to assist you with putting together information for your campaign. We cans supply you with the voting records of your Democrat opponents on issues that are important to your constituents.

I thank you all for your hard work in what has been a most difficult year with the loss of our Republican Leader Mike Whalley, as well as other members of our caucus Jim Oliver, Don Buxton, Bruce Hunter, and Bob Forsing. On behalf of our Republican Leadership team I thank you for your support during those very trying times.

I hope to see many of you back here in the fall and, to those of you who will make the decision to step down from elected service, I thank you for your contribution to the Republican cause. We have worked hard to maintain and protect the New Hampshire Advantage Republican Caucus and we will resume the fight again in January.

Greg Knytych (Laconia City Ward 1 Councilor) announced yesterday that he is running for NH District 4's Senate seat that is currently held by incumbent Democrat Kathy Sgambati on his blog site, The Blogging Councilor. 

He later spread that decision more widely on yesterday's Meet The New Press radio show.  The interview can be heard here in the last half hour of the second hour podcast (or just listen to the clip dedicated to his interview just below it).

His press release is as follows:

Greg Knytych, the freshman Laconia City Councilor from Ward 1 has just announced his intention to run for the New Hampshire Senate in District 4. There are too many expenses being passed down to the property taxpayers through the counties and that has to stop. Knytych feels that Spending must be controlled in Concord while protecting the traditional New Hampshire values and way of life. Knytych thinks the idea is simple, we can't have over 17% budget increases and looming deficits and Legislators thinking that we just need to raise taxes or create new taxes to pay for this.

We have a Spending-Tax-Cap in Laconia and this serves to put a light on a dark problem. This problem cannot and will not be fixed until we have people who will fight to protect the taxpayers and citizens of this fine state from the excessive spending and lack of fiscal restraint we have seen. There are two ways to deal with budget shortfalls, first is to cut expenses and second is to increase revenue. With a the budget crisis we currently find ourselves in Knytych says he hasn't seen any real cuts in the excessive spending but there are plans to increase taxes. Not to mention the plan to borrow our way out of trouble by using bonds to pay for the General Fund obligations. If we can't pay the bills now how can we afford the financing costs associated? What will the extra financing costs do to future budgets?

We need strong conservative leadership to get our fiscal house in order. Then we can focus on the real problems we have in this state, creating an environment that promotes free-trade, economic growth and affordable health care.

Greg Knytych will be planning some campaign events to help get the word out. As these events are scheduled they will be posted on his website "The Blogging Councilor" (www.laconia-nh.us). Knytych says that thus far the reaction to this news has been very positive. Knytych can be reached via e-mail at greg@knytych.net.

The Laconia Daily Sun recently (6/9, page 5) did a brief interview with Greg concerning his announcement:

Greg Knytych files papers to run for state Senate

CONCORD — On Wednesday of last week, Laconia City Councilor Greg Knytych (Ward 1) filed candidacy papers for the Republican nomination for NH’s District 4 state Senate seat at the Secretary of State’s office.

Following the official signing, Knytych declared, “There are many issues to address at the state but the first and foremost items on my list are taxes and spending.”

Referring to the recent agreed-to Democrat-led plan to fund mandated state directives through borrowing, Knytych, expressed his clear disagreement and asked, “how much sense does it make that the Legislature is planning on ‘borrowing’ this state out of the budget defi cit?”

“The more I thought about it and how I can affect a positive change to stop the practice of the state passing costs down through the counties to the property tax payers I realized that I would not only be protecting the residents of Laconia but some of our surrounding neighbors that don’’t have the Spending-Tax-Cap to protect them,” added Knytych. As proof of his intentions, he has already signed both of N.H.’s anti-tax pledges.

The freshman councilor notes that his newly forming team is in the process of getting all, “the legal matters taken care of that naturally come with a serious campaign” such as creating a fundraising PAC.

A seasoned Internet blogger known in the online community as “The Blogging Councilor” (www.laconianh. us/), Knytych already has a new website up and running in support of the campaign located at www. Knytych4NHValues.com, where he promises “together, we’ll move N.H. right back to traditional N.H. Values!”

The traditionally Republican seat is currently held by Democrat Kathy Sgambati of Tilton. The district includes Alton, Barnstead, Belmont, Gilford, Gilmanton, Laconia, New Durham, Strafford and Tilton.

The campaign promises a vigorous e-campaign in the days and months ahead as well.

From the Citizen:

LACONIA — State Rep. Frank Tilton will seek a seat on the Belknap County Commission in this fall's election.

The Laconia Republican announced his candidacy for County Commissioner to The Citizen on Tuesday and will file when the period opens in two weeks.

Tilton said he will seek the seat currently occupied by Philip "Bud" Daigneault, who is not running for re-election.

"The budgets are tight, all the counties are being scrutinized," Tilton said. "We need to be well-managed so I have a lot of government experience."

From the Laconia Daily Sun (p 1, 8-9)

LACONIA — After two-terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, Frank Tilton is retiring to run for the seat on the Belknap County Commission opened  by the pending retirement of chairman Philip “Bud” Daigneault.

Tilton said that 42 of the 46 years he has spent in government service — 32 in the United States Army, 10 as Director of Public Works in Laconia and 4 as a state representative — have been in the executive branch. “County commissioner is a necessary function,” he said. Noting that as member of both the House of Representatives and the Belknap County Convention “I’ve been wearing two hats, but when I’ve had to choose between the state and the county, I’ve clearly been on the side of the county.”

[snip]

“Frank is a great candidate, who will do a good job,” Daigneault said. Tilton serves on the executive committee of the County Convention as well as on a working group with Representatives Alida Millham (R-Gilford) and Jane Wood (D-Laconia) to review the statutes and procedures governing the operation of county government. Laughing at the prospect of giving up his seat in the House, which pays $100 a year, for the prospect of earning near $9,000 as a county commissioner, Tilton agreed “that’s a pretty good pay raise, but I won’t be able to go through the toll booths for nothing.”

Tilton is one five representatives and three incumbent Republicans elected to the House in Laconia. He also chairs the Belknap County Republican Committee. He said that his decision not to seek re-election would not weaken the GOP ticket in the general election this fall. “We’ll probably have six candidates for the five seats in the city (running in the September primary election),” he said. The filing period for the primary election in September opens on Wednesday, June 4 and closes on Friday, June 13.